God Is Always Near

Paul said in Acts 17:26-27, "And He has made from one blood every nation of men
to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times
and the boundaries of their habitation, so that they should seek the Lord, in the
hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each
one of us."

There is an old belief, a false belief, called deism, which teaches that God created
the universe and man, then abandoned them for some other distant project. Many
people today feel and act as if God were millions of miles away. This type of
reasoning prevents man from having a right relationship with God. The Bible says
He is not far from everyone of us. How near is the Lord?

He is near enough to see us. "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding
the evil and the good" (Proverbs 15:3). "Neither is there any creature that is not
manifest in His sight" (Hebrews 4:13). God sees and knows everything about us.

He is near enough to hear us. "The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and
his ears are open unto their prayers" (1 Peter 3:12). Isn't it wonderful that we
can talk to the Lord anywhere at anytime? "Because He hath inclined His ear
unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live" (Psalm 116:2).

He is near enough to be sympathetic to all our needs. "For we do not have a
High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness, but was in all points
tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the
throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of
need" (Hebrews 4:15-16).

He is near enough to walk with us "through the valley of the shadow of death."
When Stephen was put to death the Lord was near enough for Stephen to
see Him and to speak to Him. "Lord Jesus receive my spirit" (Acts 7:56-60).

The Lord is nearer to us than any person on earth. If we belong to Him, He has
promised "... never to leave us nor forsake us" (Hebrews 13:5). "The eternal God
is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms" (Deuteronomy 33:27).